Definition
A creation myth is a narrative that explains how a fictional world, its people, or its fundamental forces came into existence. It usually involves gods, primordial beings, cosmic events, or some combination of all three. In worldbuilding, creation myths anchor a culture's values and fears, giving readers a sense of deep history even when the myth only appears in fragments.
Why It Matters
Your creation myth shapes everything downstream: why magic works the way it does, why certain places are sacred, why two nations hate each other. Even if you never spell it out on the page, knowing how your world began helps you write with consistency and confidence. It is the bedrock that makes the rest of your lore feel earned rather than invented on the fly.
Types of Creation Myth
Famous Examples
The Ainulindale is a full musical cosmogony where the world is literally sung into existence, setting up every conflict in Middle-earth.
Earthsea's creation story ties directly to the magic system: the Old Speech used to name things is the language Segoy used to raise the islands from the sea.
Multiple competing creation myths exist in-universe, with different cultures claiming contradictory origins, which itself becomes a plot point.
Common Mistakes
Weave fragments in through dialogue, cultural practices, and casual references. Let readers piece it together.
Real cultures have competing origin stories. Give your world at least two versions so it feels lived-in rather than like a textbook.
Tie at least one element of your creation myth to a present-day conflict, prophecy, or cultural tension in your story.
Try It Yourself
Write two competing creation myths for the same fictional world, each told from a different culture's perspective. Keep each version under 200 words. Focus on where they contradict each other, then jot down one present-day conflict that could stem from that disagreement.
Keep Your Lore Consistent
Store your creation myths, cultural beliefs, and deep history in Novelium's Story Bible so every reference stays consistent across your manuscript.